News Releases Archive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:

Ausma Mursch,
516-741-0994, LCC132@aol.com
Wendy Healy
203-744-6367, Wendy@ldrny.org

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LUTHERAN COUNSELING CENTER HONORED FOR HELPING THOSE AFFECTED BY 9/11/01

MINEOLA, N.Y. -- Dec. 11, 2002 -- Ausma Mursch of Mineola, N.Y., executive director of the Lutheran Counseling Center (LCC), received a Seeds of Hope Award from Wheat Ridge Ministries at its ninth annual awards luncheon in New York City on Dec. 3.

Mrs. Mursch oversees seven LCC offices throughout New York City, Long Island and Westchester County. Her work has brought national recognition to the Center, particularly since September 11, 2001. Immediately following the attack, the LCC counseled thousands of persons and provided training and workshops to care-givers and pastors. LCC is a partner of and receives funding from Lutheran Disaster Response of New York (LDRNY).

Her leadership efforts were also recognized earlier this year when she was honored as a “Woman Sustaining the American Spirit” and was presented the “Governor’s Award for Excellence.”

With a master’s degree in counseling and administration from the State University of New York at Albany, she joined the LCC in 1995. Previous to this position, she was director of community services, dean of liberal arts, director of counseling and advisement, and professor of German, English and psychology at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y.

In her eight years directing LCC, Mrs. Mursch has grown the service to include 18 psychotherapists who hold advanced degrees in various counseling disciplines. LCC is supported by more than 35 congregations in the greater New York area, including LDRNY, and also receives corporate and community grants.

A native of Latvia, Mrs. Mursch immigrated to the United States when she was nine. She is fluent in English, German and Latvian. She and her husband Bob, a pastor, have two children and three grandchildren.